Financial links between the Gulen Movement and Gulen charter schools

Whenever the issue of the connection of the Gulen charter schools to the Gulen Movement arises, Gulenists assert that there is “no organic tie” between the movement and the schools.Presumably, they intend this to mean that no paper or financial trail can provide a link.

Connection between Niagara Foundation and Niagara Educational Services From the Niagara Foundation website:http://www.nfmichigan.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=53"Niagara Foundation is a subsidiary of Niagara Educational Services, Inc.(NES). NES, a non- profit organization dedicated to innovation and revitalization in education, was founded by a group of businessmen in Chicago in 1997."

[Note added on Sep 17, 2010. Since this page was first published, the text quoted here and below was deleted from the Niagara Foundation website. We believe that this deletion was not coincidental, but rather represents another attempt by Gulenists to remove any traces of their connections.]

Connection between Niagara Educational Services and Science Academy of Chicago

Connection between Niagara Educational Services and the Gulen Movement

Ali Yurtsever is currently Program Coordinator of Niagara Educational Services.He was formerly president of the RumiForum, an overtly Gulenist organization.He taught at Yamanlar College and Fatih University, which are institutions in Turkey run by the Gulen Movement.He studied at Fatih University.

Connection between Niagara Educational Services and Breeze

On page 22 of the IRS Form 990 for Niagara Educational Services, it can be seen that they have purchased a school building from Breeze for over a million dollars.On page 26 it can be seen that Niagara Educational Services has a note from Breeze for the principal amount of $450,000.Under borrower’s name, the form says “Breeze, Inc. - An Ohio corporation By Its President Vedat Akgun.”

Connection between Breeze, Vedat Akgun and Horizon Science Academy

A document from the NCB financial group, a lender, mentions Breeze in connection with a line of credit they provided to Breeze:

Breeze, Inc., Rosemont, Illinois $2,300,000 non-revolving line of creditBreeze, Inc. is a developer of charter school facilities that was originally incorporated as a for-profit real estate developer and holding company for charter schools under the Concept Schools umbrella.The proceeds of this line of credit will be used to acquire and renovate a new school site in Gary, Indiana.Concept Schools was founded in 2002 to build upon a successful educational model started in Columbus and Cleveland – there are currently 13 schools in the network serving 3,117 students in Ohio, Illinois and Indiana

News article from Columbus Dispatch, May 30, 2007Horizon charter school in financial fix: Struggling science academy $236,000 in the red last fiscal year, state audit shows Wednesday."Also at one point in 2006, the school fell a month and a half behind in paying rent on its high-school building to Breeze Inc., which is owned by another of Horizon's founders, Vedat Akgun. "Horizon paid Breeze $263,000 in rent in fiscal year 2006, and the school's board guaranteed a $2.3 million loan on behalf of Breeze in May 2006, auditors said."

Note: Further connections between Breeze and Horizon Science Academy have been documented on the Charter School Watchdog site.

Note added Sep 17, 2010: Here is the complete text that was deleted from the Niagara Foundation website after our webpage was published:"Company Overview: Niagara Foundation is a subsidiary of Niagara educational Services, Inc.(NES). NES, a non- profit organization dedicated to innovation and revitalization in education, was founded by a group of businessmen in Chicago in 1997. NES initiated tutoring sessions in mathematics, computer education, SAT, TOEFL and foreign languages. In 2000 NES opened Science Academy of Chicago (SAC), a primary school emphasizing achievement in science, mathematics and technology (see video). In its short history, SAC students have been awarded numerous medals, certificates and honors in various math and science competitions. Today the SAC community includes a committed faculty and a growing student body who continue to implement the schools mission with great success. In response to unrest in the world community and in cooperation with the Chicago area organizations and universities, NF is dedicated to promoting the development of human values. Through its programs NF continues to bring together thousands of people from different communities and ethnic backgrounds."